Bennett Valley Voice

BENNETT VALLEY VOICE

Vol.7 No. 3

Bennett Valley Homeowners Association

August 1984

BUHA BOARD

Of Directors

President Vice-President Sec-Treasurer Warren Watkins Dave Steiner Nancy Batson Dona Moberly Bill Jacobs Sam Mitchell Tamara Boultbee Paul Mowbray Bill MacIver

Memo From The

BOARD The supervisor candidates night held in late April was well attended by homeowners and many questions were answered. As you know, those of us in the first district will be represented by Janet Nicholas (see interview article beginning in January. A1 50, because of the death of Helen Putnam, a new supervisor for the second district will be appointed by the governor to serve until then, followed by an election held in November to select a permanent replacement.

We are grateful for the years of service by Mrs. Putnam.

An Interview With Janet Nicholas

We spoke with newly elected first district supervisor Janet Nicholas recently and asked her the following questions. Below is a brief summary of her responses.

Why Did You Run For Supervisor?

I ran primarily for three reasons. wasn't happy with some of the decisions made regarding land use, particularly in regard to the balance between urban and agricultural uses. I want to be involved in the 1985 General Plan update. Secondly, as I made clear in my campaign, I am concerned with policies transportion in the first district.

Thirdly, I would like to use ay financial and economic background as budget problems in Sonoma County increase in dimension.

What Are You Doing Now To Prepare For

The BVHA was formed in the early 1970's because of the threat of a mobile home park in the heart of the valley. We are with the possibility of mobile homes here as the board of supervisors addresses the question of THIS JOB? My years on the Planning Commission have made me familiar with the General Plan, but I am working to learn how the various county departments function. I have been meeting with department heads, learning budgets, and asking questions.

amending ordinance # 2985. This amendment, if adopted, would allow individual mobile homes with permanemt foundations on properties previously zoned only for conventional housing. Although design restrictions would

What Do You See As Major Issues?

Land use decisions will continue to be controversial. Money sources and spending priorities will be more complex as the county grows. apply, the BHA board unanimously opposes this action. We have written a

What New Ideas Will You Present?

strong letter to the county planning I would like Lo make the budget easier commission and will send copies to the for the public to read and understand. board of supervisors. This item will be I am going to push for some agenda taken up by the supervisors at a hearing changes at our meetings, and want to use on September 18, at 4 pm. If you are my financial expertise in forming the concerned with this change, write or budget.

Also, I am not satisfied with phone the supervisors now and attend the land decisions made in recent years. hearing. Call the planning department at 527-2412 in September to check on the time and date. As you may have read, the Farmlands Initiative will most likely qualify for the ballot in November.

This initiative deals with reversing the trend of continued loss of prime farmland in Sonoma County. As promoting agriculture in Bennett Valley is an objective here, residents need to follow this issue.

What Do You See For Bennett Valley?

I support the Bennett Valley Specific Plan and the design review committee. Some of the ideas used in the valley were novel, but they work and I would like to see them implemented elsewhere. I see a continuance of existing trends. Agriculture has proven it has a future here. The Summerfield road extension proposal will be an issue.

Bennett Valley Homeowners Association 1968-1984

In the Last issue of the VOICE we aspects of the plan, but today it is working reviewed the beginnings of the Association, smoothly. why it was formed, and the work involved The B.V. Specific Plan is being used as in Sevuing Lü in motion.

Land use will be a guildeline for the updating of the Sonoma Co. the focus of this article as it seems to be General Plan. A conversation with Ken Curtis, the main issue of the Bennett Valley Specific Plan, the Homeowners Assoc., and residents head of the Comprehensive Planning Dipte s00 brought the following information.

of the Bennett Valley area. General Plan, which was adopted prior to A little history first. the B.V. Study, is being revised to meet the The valley was settled first by the more detailed Specific James N. Bennetts in 1849, having purchased Plan, as there are some discrepancies between the two.

Each the property from General Valleio in 1852 as area of Sonoma Co. will be reviewed, one area a part of a Spanish land grant called Yulupa. at a time. Public meetings will be held Vineyards were planted in 1854 and by prior to the draft, taking 1 to 2 years to 1884 there were 4000 acres producing grapes.

complete." In 1890, the vines were destroyed by Curtis also said, "Each time an applicaPhylloxera, an aphid species which attacked tion for development of property in B.V. is the roots of the vines. The land was thus received by the Planning Dept. the Specific turned to other agricultural uses; apples, Plan is reviewed, but there have been no pears, plums and prunes, hay, and stock major changes since 1978.

farms for cattle, sheep, dairying and horses. and the So. Co. General Plan are enforced by Today, much of the agriculture and the state as well as the county." ranching continue with a resurgence in the The Homeowners Assoc. upholds the guidegrape producing industry. 1978 brought the lines set down in the Bennett Valley Study opening of the first winery in recent times and has monthly meetings todiscuss in B.V•, Matanzas Creek Winery.

Horse issues as they come up. Members are encouragranching and breeding also seem to be a ed to attend at least one meeting a year to thriving business today. get an inside view of the considerations given Bennett Valley is truly a community by the Board to issues in Bennett Valley.

within itself with aschool district that Copies of the B.V. Study are available began in 1857, one of the oldest Granges in from the Planning Dept. It is a comprehensive the U.S., a fire protection district estabstudy of land use, zoning recommendations, lished in 1948, 4-H activities for our population, trafficing, endangered species future farmers, a Garden Club, a Homeowners (plant and animal) and other visual Association, a Specific Plan for Land Use and considerations.

growth control, and a Design Review Committee. Past Presidents of the Assoc. for this bennett valley has come a Long way since period 1978-84 were Paul Mowbray, Max Moberly, 1850 but there still remains a strong Tamara Boultbee, and Warren Watkins. interest to protect the values of those who Past Supervisors for our District since originally settled the area and continue 1965 were I.G. Vella, Brian Kahn, Bob Adams, today.

and currently Janet Nicholas. Approval of the Bennett Valley Study Beautiful Bennett Valley, a part of came in 1978 after a year and ahlf of meetings Luther Burbank's "chosen spot on earth", has by an appointed citizens committee representan ideal climate for agriculture, livestock ing B.V. and the Sonoma County Planning and planned residences, with a history past, Dept.

A February 179 article in the Press present, and future. Democrat was headlined "One House per 40 (Resources: B.V. Study, past BHA Newsacres - Board adopts plan for Bennett Valley". letters, and the Records of the BVHA.) Not all residents were in favor of all BOUNDARIES OF THE B.V. STUDY include part of Petaluma Hill Rd. to Santa Rosa, part of Pressley, most of Sonoma Mtn. Rd. and B.V. Road, Enterprise Rd. and Annadel State Park to Yulupa.

Babe Study Area Boundari

Minor Constraints (Low Hazard

Slope Instability (High Hazardi

Possible Landslides Very High Hazard

Subject To Inundation (Very High Hazardi

Earthquake Fault Zone (Very High Hazardi

City Of Rohment Park

Sonoma County Fair - July 23 To Aug 5

Our Bennett Valley Grange received another first place ribbon for their booth in the Main Pavilion. Ann Burrows says this is the 6th or 8th year in a row that the Grange has received first place. The Theme was "Mistress Mary, How Does your Garden Grow." All the vegetables in the exhibit were homegrown in Bennett Valley.

Master of the Grange this year is Wm. Allen. 4-H'ers were also well represented in the stock shows and other classes. (Tallies were not in soon enough for this printing.) The Fair's focus this ycar was free entertainment, all concerts being free with gate admission.

1984 Harvest Fair - October 5,6, &7

Premium Books will be available by August 10th. Kids day is Friday, the 5th, when 1500 school kids visit field trip to see demonstrations and An Art Reception will be held Friday p•m. and will feature paintings, photos and needlework (a new class), all with a Harvest Art pieces will be judged and for To enter any of these classes see Premium book - the Fair gets 15% commission.

September 29 is awards night from 7 to 9:30 p.m. A new class is open to professional caterers and restaurants for These hors d'oeuvres will be served on awards night along with the wines and pro french bread winners. Barbecues will be held each day from 12 to 5. Friday will be a chicken barbecue, Saturday - Pork barbecue, and Sunday Beef Barbecue.

The following was taken from the B.V. Study

Bennett Valley Study District

Rare And Endangered Plants

1. DOHU - Downingia humilis A spring-flowering annual of the Bellflower Family Campanulaceae) added to the Main List CNPS in 1976. It may be found in a number of vernal pools in Napa, Sonoma, Merced and Stanislau Counties, but was first described in 1910 from Sonoma County.

Reconfirmed in Bennett Valley Vernal Pooî in 1974, not seen there during succeeding dry years. 2. ISHO - Isoetes howellii Engelm. A small amphibious herb of the Quillwort Fam1ly (Isoetaceae) added to the CNPS Appendix II list in 1978; distributed through out the Coast Ranges.

Although widespread in distribution, loss of habitat through urban development and agriculture has decreased the species. 3. LIRU - Lilium rubescens Wats. A bulbous perennial herb of the Lily Family (Liliaceae) Commonly called the Redwood Lily, it is distributed through Coast Ranges as far south as Santa Cruz County.

A target of the tourist, gardener, commercial horticulturist and deer, the species has declined and is found in Sonoma County in relatively few areas. 4. PIAM - Pilularia americana A. Br. An inconspicuous Any (Marsileaces Feund on the margins of Famponds and vernal pools, below 5500 feet.

5. PLHO - Plueropogon hooverianus (L. Benson) A perennial semaphore grass of the Fescue Tribe (Festuceae) Grass Family (Gramineae) Located in wet meadows and grassy places in Mixed Evergreen Forest from Marin to Mendocino County; two known locations in Sonoma County. 6. PODOP - Pogogyne douglasii ssp. parviflora Benth 1 enal: aromatic annual in the Mint Family (Labiatae).

Found in dry beds of vernal pools; Coast Range Valleys in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties. The species in this location should also be classified as PC (possible candidate).

Additions To Membership List

Mr & Mrs Frank Krutak 6554 Birch Dr. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Marilyn & James Stocks 2590 Bennett Valley Rd. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 M. Kilganam-Evans 6484 Bennett Valley Rd. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Bonnie Kreger 8800 Bennett Valley Rd. Cien Ellen, Ca. S5442 Gene Darling 4596 Balsam Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Peggy & George Nostrant 4050 Grange Rd.

Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Beverly & Bob Turner 5800 Sonoma Mt. Rd. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Jinx & Jim Coops 2888 Bardy Rd. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Sally & Brent Welch 2915 Bardy Rd. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Mr & Mrs R.L. Nottingham 4496 Sonoma Nt. Rd.

Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Adrienne & Eugene Staggs 5181 Sonoma Mt. Rd. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Nancy & Bill Murray 6690 Sonoma Mt. Ra. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Jeanifer & Scott McIntosh 6607 Sonoma Mt. Ra. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Marilee & Bill Parker 2867 Bardy Rd.

Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404 Conni Troest 5441 Alta Monte Dr. Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404

Bennett Valley Homeowners Association

Post Office Box 2666 Santa Rosa, California 95405 AUG 4 1984 C= A GIVE THE UNITED WAY Mr & Mrs E.Kieth Franc 6233 Sonoma Mt. Rd Santa Rosa, Ca. 95404